CEN Practitioner

CEN Practitioner – Band 6 NHS Job in Oldbury with Skilled Worker Sponsorship

Employer: Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Job Title: CEN Practitioner
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 – £48,117 per year
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full-time
Location: Jack Judge House, Oldbury, West Midlands, UK
Date Posted: 10 September 2026
Closing Date: 23 September 2026
Reference: 285-8735-MH
NHS Reference: C9285-26-0574
Skilled Worker Sponsorship: Applications requiring current Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered
Professional Registration: Current UK professional registration required

Are you a registered mental health professional looking for a Band 6 NHS opportunity where you can develop specialist skills while helping shape a developing service?

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a CEN Practitioner to join its innovative Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) Team in Oldbury.

This is a permanent, full-time Band 6 position offering a salary of £39,959 to £48,117 per year. The successful candidate will work across the four Black Country localities as part of a developing, psychology-led pathway designed to provide coordinated, trauma-informed and non-stigmatising care for people with complex emotional needs.

Importantly for international applicants, the employer states that applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

CEN Practitioner Job Overview

The CEN Practitioner will work closely with Community Mental Health Teams, psychologists, Clinical Leads, Wellbeing & Recovery Facilitators and medical colleagues to provide personalised and recovery-focused support.

The role is designed around smaller caseloads and more frequent, purposeful contact. This gives practitioners greater opportunity to establish therapeutic relationships, respond to changing needs and deliver interventions based on each person’s circumstances, goals and clinical formulation.

The successful applicant will also have opportunities to contribute to the development of the new CEN service and strengthen specialist knowledge in areas relevant to complex emotional needs.

Key Job Details

Job detail	Information
Job title	CEN Practitioner
Employer	Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Band	Band 6
Salary	£39,959 – £48,117 per year
Contract	Permanent
Working pattern	Full-time
Location	Jack Judge House, Halesowen Street, Oldbury, B69 2AJ
Date posted	10 September 2026
Closing date	23 September 2026
Reference number	285-8735-MH
Professional registration	Current UK professional registration required
Skilled Worker sponsorship	Applications requiring current sponsorship are welcome

About the CEN Practitioner Role

The Complex Emotional Needs Team provides support for people with complex emotional needs through a coordinated pathway working alongside Community Mental Health Teams.

As a Band 6 CEN Practitioner, you will contribute to a service that emphasises psychological thinking, relationship-based care, compassion, consistency and personalised support.

You will be expected to use professional judgement and creativity when working with service users while maintaining safe and effective clinical practice.

The Trust is particularly interested in registered:

Mental health nurses
Occupational therapists
Social workers

Previous experience of working with complex emotional needs would be beneficial. Knowledge or experience of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) would also be advantageous.

Main Responsibilities

The successful CEN Practitioner will undertake a varied clinical and professional role.

Key responsibilities include:

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Managing a smaller caseload to enable more intensive and responsive support.
Carrying out assessments and coordinating clinical care.
Responding flexibly to emerging clinical needs.
Developing bespoke, formulation-led care plans.
Developing positive risk-management plans.
Delivering psychologically based interventions.
Ensuring care plans reflect individual needs, circumstances and goals.
Working closely with Community Mental Health Teams to ensure agreed care plans are implemented consistently.
Providing intervention-led support to people accessing the service.
Supporting CEN Wellbeing & Recovery Facilitators with leadership, guidance and professional support.
Participating in multidisciplinary team meetings.
Providing in-reach support to inpatient services.
Attending professionals’ meetings and case conferences where required.
Working closely with psychologists, Clinical Leads and other members of the CEN multidisciplinary team.
Maintaining accurate and timely clinical records.
Promoting safe, compassionate and person-centred practice.
Working in accordance with professional codes of conduct, legislation, Trust policies and Trust values.

Clinical Work and Caseload

A key feature of this position is the smaller caseload.

This approach is intended to allow practitioners to provide more intensive and responsive support while developing meaningful therapeutic relationships with service users.

You will undertake assessments, coordinate care and respond to emerging needs. With support from the CEN multidisciplinary team, you will develop formulation-led care plans and positive risk-management strategies.

The role requires practitioners to work collaboratively with wider Community Mental Health Teams so that agreed approaches are understood and delivered consistently.

Training, Supervision and Professional Development

The Trust provides opportunities for professional development through regular supervision, reflective practice and constructive feedback.

You will receive day-to-day support from CEN psychologists and Clinical Leads while developing your knowledge and skills in working with complex emotional needs.

Depending on service requirements and your development, there may be opportunities to undertake training in evidence-informed approaches such as:

Structured Clinical Management
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

As your experience develops, you may also have opportunities to contribute to supervision and reflective practice for Community Mental Health Team colleagues and CEN Wellbeing & Recovery Facilitators.

Essential Qualifications and Professional Registration

Applicants must meet the essential professional requirements specified by the employer.

These include:

A recognised registered mental health professional qualification.
Current UK professional registration.
Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD).

The advert welcomes applications from registered mental health nurses, occupational therapists and social workers.

Important: Applicants from outside the UK should ensure that they have the required UK professional registration before applying, as the advert specifically states that current UK professional registration is required.

Desirable Qualifications

The following are desirable rather than essential:

Further training in psychosocial interventions relevant to Personality Disorders.
A Master’s qualification, or working towards a Master’s qualification, or equivalent.
Relevant additional specialist training.

Essential Experience

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

Proven experience of working with clients with complex emotional needs.
Experience working with individuals who present to mental health services with symptoms of common mental health illness.
Proven experience working with clients with Personality Disorders and/or neurodiversity.
Comprehensive mental health and risk assessment skills.
Ability to deliver a range of evidence-based interventions.
Ability to establish productive working relationships with service users, carers and multidisciplinary colleagues.
Ability to adopt flexible working practices and undertake the full range of duties associated with the role.
Ability to drive.

Desirable Experience and Skills

The Trust identifies the following as desirable:

See also Relief Worker

Experience working within a psychological model of care, such as DBT or another relevant approach.
Experience providing supervision to junior staff, trainees or students.
Skills or experience in audit or research.

These desirable criteria may strengthen an application but are not listed as essential requirements.

Who Could Be Suitable for This NHS Job?

This opportunity could be particularly relevant to registered mental health professionals who already have experience supporting people with complex emotional needs, Personality Disorders, neurodiversity or related mental health presentations.

It may also appeal to professionals who want to develop specialist knowledge in psychological approaches while working within a multidisciplinary NHS environment.

The Trust is looking for practitioners who are described as curious, resilient and passionate about improving care.

Applicants should also be comfortable working collaboratively and using professional judgement when developing personalised care and risk-management plans.

Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship

Yes — the employer has explicitly stated that Skilled Worker sponsorship applicants are welcome.

The NHS advert states:

“Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.”

This means candidates who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship can apply and will be considered alongside other applicants.

However, sponsorship should not be interpreted as an automatic guarantee of a visa or Certificate of Sponsorship. Applicants must still satisfy the relevant immigration, professional registration, recruitment and eligibility requirements.

The role also specifically requires current UK professional registration, which is particularly important for overseas-qualified professionals.

Applicants requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship should carefully review the latest UK immigration requirements before applying.

Overseas Applicants and Criminal Record Requirements

The employer highlights additional requirements for Skilled Worker applicants entering the UK.

Applicants may need to provide a criminal record certificate from countries where they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more during the previous 10 years, subject to the applicable rules.

Adult dependants over 18 may also be subject to relevant criminal-record requirements.

Applicants should check the latest official UK government guidance before making immigration arrangements.

See also Support Worker

DBS Check

This position is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

The requirement is connected to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and means that the successful applicant will be required to undergo the appropriate criminal-record checking process.

About Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health, learning disability and autism services to children and adults across the Black Country.

The Trust serves a highly diverse population across three towns and one city and works in areas that include significant socio-economic deprivation.

Its services include both community and inpatient provision, alongside partnership working with Local Authorities and third-sector organisations.

The Trust places emphasis on inclusive practice and aims to develop a workforce that reflects the population it serves.

It also promotes co-production and has a cohort of Lived Experience Practitioners who contribute to service development.

Staff wellbeing and a culture of compassion are also highlighted as important elements of the organisation’s approach.

Working Environment

The CEN Practitioner will work within an integrated multidisciplinary network.

The role involves collaboration with:

CEN psychologists
Clinical Leads
Community Mental Health Teams
Medical colleagues
Wellbeing & Recovery Facilitators
Inpatient services
Service users and carers
Other professional and community partners

This makes communication, teamwork and the ability to build productive professional relationships important aspects of the position.

Location

Jack Judge House
Halesowen Street
Oldbury
B69 2AJ
United Kingdom

The role is based within the Black Country and involves working across the Trust’s four localities as part of the CEN pathway.

Applicants should carefully consider the location and travel requirements before applying.

Salary and Contract

The position is offered under the NHS Agenda for Change pay scheme.

Band: 6
Salary: £39,959 – £48,117 per year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time

See also Trainee Practitioner

The salary range is the amount stated in the original NHS vacancy and should be treated as subject to the employer’s applicable terms and conditions.

Application Process

Applications should be submitted through the official NHS Jobs vacancy.

Candidates should ensure that their application clearly demonstrates how they meet the essential criteria in the person specification.

In particular, applicants should provide relevant evidence relating to:

Mental health assessment.
Risk assessment and management.
Evidence-based interventions.
Complex emotional needs.
Personality Disorders and/or neurodiversity.
Multidisciplinary working.
Professional registration.
Continuing professional development.
Relevant clinical experience.

Candidates requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship should also ensure that they clearly understand the professional registration and immigration requirements associated with the position.

Closing Date

Applications close on 23 September 2026.

Candidates are encouraged to review the vacancy requirements and submit their application before the closing date rather than waiting until the final day.

How to Apply

Interested candidates can apply through the official NHS Jobs vacancy.

Full details + Apply:
https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9285-26-0574

Direct application:
https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9285-26-0574/ats-direct-apply

Employer Contact

For questions about the position:

Contact: Clare Barnes
Job title: Operational Manager
Email: clare.barnes@nhs.net
Telephone: 07920 751329

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this CEN Practitioner job offer Skilled Worker sponsorship?

Yes. The employer explicitly states that applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Is this a permanent NHS job?

Yes. The position is offered on a permanent contract.

What NHS Band is the position?

This is a Band 6 CEN Practitioner position.

How much does the job pay?

The advertised salary is £39,959 to £48,117 per year.

See also Care Assistant

Is the role full-time?

Yes. The advertised working pattern is full-time.

Where is the job based?

The main listed location is Jack Judge House, Halesowen Street, Oldbury, B69 2AJ, United Kingdom. The practitioner will work across the four Black Country localities within the developing CEN pathway.

Who can apply?

The Trust welcomes registered mental health nurses, occupational therapists and social workers who meet the vacancy’s professional and experience requirements.

Do overseas applicants need UK professional registration?

Yes. The advert states that applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Is experience with complex emotional needs required?

Yes. Proven experience of working with clients with complex emotional needs is listed as an essential requirement.

Is DBT experience required?

DBT experience is not listed as an essential requirement. Experience working with a psychological model of care such as DBT is listed as desirable, while knowledge of DBT would be beneficial.

Is a Master’s degree mandatory?

No. A Master’s qualification, or working towards one or equivalent, is listed as desirable rather than essential.

When is the closing date?

The closing date is 23 September 2026.

Final Application Reminder

This Band 6 CEN Practitioner vacancy offers an opportunity for an appropriately registered mental health professional to join a developing NHS service focused on complex emotional needs.

The position combines clinical practice, multidisciplinary working, psychological approaches, professional development and opportunities to contribute to the development of a new pathway.

For international applicants, the vacancy is particularly notable because current Skilled Worker sponsorship applicants are explicitly welcomed, although applicants must still meet the professional registration and applicable immigration requirements.

Candidates should review the complete official vacancy and person specification before submitting an application.

Source and Disclaimer

Source: NHS Jobs / Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

This vacancy information has been arranged and summarised from the employer’s published job advertisement. Salary, eligibility, sponsorship, closing date, professional registration and other vacancy details can change. Applicants should always verify the latest information on the official NHS Jobs listing before applying.

Job reference: 285-8735-MH
NHS vacancy reference: C9285-26-0574
Closing date: 23 September 2026

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